Kozak injury blow for Villa

Aston Villa striker Libor Kozak has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a broken leg.

The 24-year-old Czech Republic international will undergo surgery on Friday after he was injured in training on Thursday.

Villa issued a brief statement on their website late on Thursday to confirm the injury, adding: "Regretfully, he will play no further part this season."

Kozak joined Villa from Lazio in the summer for £7m and has started eight Premier League games this season as well as making six appearances from the substitutes' bench, the last of them in the 1-1 draw with Swansea City on December 28.

He has netted four goals for Villa so far and his loss is likely to force Villa manager Paul Lambert to move for a new striker during the January transfer window.

Lambert does have Christian Benteke available again now, however, after the Belgian forward returned from a calf injury to partner Gabriel Agbonlahor up front in the 1-0 win at Sunderland on New Year's Day.